DA to upgrade changes in toddler’s death

May 20, 2013

BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A district attorney says he plans to upgrade charges against a western Pennsylvania stepfather now that a beaten toddler has died.

Online court records don’t list an attorney for 27-year-old Juan Campbell, of Burrell Township, Indiana County. Campbell has been in the Indiana County Jail since shortly after 20-month-old Malachi Patterson was flown to a Pittsburgh hospital on Friday with head and torso injuries.

State police say the Campbell’s wife was still hospitalized after giving birth to another child when an ambulance was called to Campbell’s apartment about 2:30 a.m. Friday, where the boy was found with bruises on his ear, cheek and nose. Police say Campbell told them the boy was injured accidentally, but doctors say his injuries couldn’t be accidental.